Bubonic Plague Lesson Plan Central Historical Question ...

Bubonic Plague Lesson Plan

Central Historical Question:
How did people in the 14th century understand the “Black Death”?

Materials:
• Black Death Documents A-B
• Black Death PowerPoint
• Graphic Organizer
• Graphic Organizer with Possible Responses
• Final Questions

Plan of Instruction:

1) Introduction: Use PowerPoint to establish background information on the
Bubonic Plague of the 14th century.

a. Slide 1: Overview of the “Black Death”
• The plague decimated large populations around parts of the
world between the 1330s and 1350s.
• Although there is continued debate about the origins of the
plague, many scientists and historians today believe the
plague resulted from the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which is
common in fleas and carried by rodents.
• Once the bacteria jumped to humans, it became highly
contagious.
• Symptoms included: fever, painful swelling
of the lymph glands called buboes, and black
spots on the skin, which was why people came to refer to it
as “black death.”
• Most people who contracted the plague died within days.

b. Slide 2: Spread of the Plague
• The plague likely originated in China in the 1330s.
• It traveled west along trade routes both by land and sea in
the 1340s.

c. Slide 3: Human Costs
• The plague was a pandemic. It killed between 75 and 200
million people across three different continents.
• Death rates included:
• Approximately, one-third of the population in the
Middle East
• Nearly one half of the population in Europe

d. Slide 4: Understanding and Explaining the Plague

The Black Death

• People in the 14th century had little knowledge of how the
plague originated, how it spread, or how to treat it.

• Across the world, people struggled to make sense of the
pandemic.

e. Introduce Inquiry
• Today we are going to be analyzing and comparing 2
different documents created during the plague to try and
figure out: How did people in the 14th century make sense of
the Black Death?

2) Pass out Document A and Graphic Organizer.
a. Explain purpose and directions for reading the document.
• To address the central historical question
• To analyze the document with historical reading questions
b. Students read document and answer guiding questions.
c. Share out responses.

3) Pass out Document B
a. Explain purpose and directions for reading the document.
• To address the central historical question
• To analyze the document with historical reading questions
• To compare, or corroborate this document with Document A.
b. Students read document and answer guiding questions.
c. Share out responses and compare documents. Note the primary
similarities and differences of these documents.

4) Final Claims and Questions
a. Students write a response for the following:
• How do these documents illustrate how people made sense
of the “Black Death”?
• List 2-3 questions you still have about the “Black Death” and
how people understood it.
• What types of documents might you examine to try and
answer these questions?

b. Share out responses.

Citations

Justice Hecher, Epidemics of the Middle Ages, translated by B.G. Babington (London: George
Woodfall and Sons, 1856), 50-53.

Ibn al-Wardi, “An Essay on the Report of the Pestilence,” in Near eastern numimastics,
iconography, epigraphy, and history: Studies in honor of George C. Miles, ed. Dickran Kouymjian,
translated by Michael Dols (American University of Beirut, 1974) 447-454.

The Black Death

Document A: University of Paris Medical Report (Modified)

The passage below is an excerpt from “The Report of the Paris Medical Faculty,”
issued in October 1348. In the report, medical faculty at the University of Paris
describe what they believed were the origins of the bubonic plague and provide
advice on how to avoid contracting the plague.

We, the Members of the College of Physicians of Paris, ... intend to
make known the causes of this pestilence (plague).

We declare as follows: It is known that in India, and the
Vicinity (area) of the Great Sea, the constellations which combated
the rays of the sun ... exerted their power especially against the sea
... and the waters of the ocean arose in the form of vapor. The waters
were in some parts so corrupted that the fish died. This vapor spread
itself through the air in many places on earth...On all the islands and
adjoining countries to which the corrupted sea-wind extends…if the
inhabitants of those parts do not take the following advice we
announce to them inevitable death—except if the grace of Christ
preserve their lives.

Every one of you should protect himself from the air; wormwood (a
fragrant plant) and chamomile should be burnt in great quantity in the
market places, in other densely inhabited localities, and in the
houses. ... The diet should be simple. ... Cold, moist, watery food is in
general harmful. Going out at night, and even until three o’clock in the
morning, is dangerous on account of the dew. Rainwater must not be
employed in cooking, and everyone should guard against exposure to
wet weather ... fasting is injurious and so is anxiety of mind, anger,
and immoderate drinking and bathing. Men must preserve chastity
(abstinence) as they value their lives. Everyone should remember
this, but especially those who reside on the coast, or upon an island

into which the noxious (poisonous) wind has penetrated.

Source: The Report of the Paris Medical Faculty, October, 1348.

The Black Death

Document B: Ibn al-Wardi (Modified)

The passage below is an excerpt from Ibn al-Wardi’s “An Essay on the Report of
the Pestilence.” Ibn al-Wardi was an Arab writer, philosopher, and historian who
was alive in the Middle East during the plague. Here, he describes the effects of
the plague on the city of Allepo in Syria. In 1349, al-Wardi died from the plague.

The plague frightened and killed. It began in the land of darkness.
Oh, what a visitor! It has been current for fifteen years. China was not
preserved from it. The plague infected the Indians in India. It weighed
upon the Sind. It seized with its hand and effected even the
Persians,…and gnawed away at the Crimea…The plague destroyed
mankind in Cairo…It stilled all movement in Alexandria.

Then, the plague turned to Upper Egypt…The plague attacked
Gaza…The plague trapped Sidon and descended unexpectedly upon
Beirut. Next, it directed its shooting arrows to Damascus. There the
plague sat like a lion on a throne and swayed with power, killing daily
one thousand or more and destroying the population.

Oh God, it is acting by Your command. Lift this from us. It happens
where You wish; keep the plague from us…

The plague caused the people of Aleppo the same disturbance. Oh, if
you could see the nobles of Aleppo studying their incomprehensible
books of medicine. They follow its remedies by eating dried and sour
foods. The buboes which disturb men’s healthy lives are smeared
with Armenian clay. Each man treated their health to make life more
comfortable. They perfumed their homes with ambergris (a fragrant
rock) and camphor (fragrant wax), cyperus (a flower), and sandal.
They wore ruby rings and put onions, vinegar, and sardines together
with the daily meal.

We ask God’s forgiveness for our bad souls; the plague is surely part
of His punishment. We take refuge (shelter) from His wrath in His
pleasure and from His chastisement (scolding) in His restoring. Some
said: the air’s corruption kills. I said: the love of corruption kills.

Source: Ibn al-Wardi, As Essay on the Report of the Pestilence, 1348.

The Black Death

How did People in the 14th Century understand the Black Death?

Sourcing and Contextualization Doc B: Ibn al-Wardi

Doc A: Paris Medical Faculty

1. Who wrote this
document?

2. When and where
was this document
written?

3. Why was this
document written?

4. Do you think
people in 1348
trusted and
believed these
authors?

Close Reading and Corroboration Questions Doc B: Ibn al-Wardi
Doc A: Paris Medical Faculty

4. Where did the
plague originate?

5. What or who
caused the plague?

The Black Death

7. Doc A:
How should people

try to prevent or
cure the plague?

7. Doc B:
How did people try
to prevent or cure

the plague?

Final Questions
1) How do these documents illustrate how people understood the “Black Death”?

2) List 2-3 questions you still have about the “Black Death” or how people understood it.

3) What types of documents might you examine to try and answer these questions?

The Black Death

How did People in the 14th Century understand the Black Death?

(possible responses/instructors notes)

Sourcing and Contextualization

Doc A: Paris Medical Faculty Doc B: Ibn al-Wardi

1. Who wrote this Paris Medical Faculty Ibn al-Wardi
document?

2. When and where Paris (France) Aleppo (Syria)
was this document 1348 1348
written?

3. Why was this Presumably, to inform the public about Unclear. Presumably to record the
document written? the origins of the plague and to advise events of 1348 for history and let

people on how to avoid contracting it. people know about the effects of the
plague.

4. Do you think Very likely. Though, people may have Unclear. This depends on knowing
people in 1348 been skeptical or doubtful of more about how well regarded or
trusted and widely read al-Wardi was at the time.
believed these universities, given the power of
authors? Catholic Church in Europe at this time. He does not have a medical
background, but he focuses primarily
on how the plague spread and how
people reacted to it in these passages.

This account seem reliable given al-
Wardi’s purpose.

Close Reading and Corroboration Questions

Doc A: Paris Medical Faculty Doc B: Ibn al-Wardi

4. Where did the India Unclear. Al-Wardi refers to the “land of
plague originate? darkness.” This reference could be

literal or figurative.

5. What or who Something in the atmosphere affected Does not give a complete answer. But,
caused the plague? the sun’s rays, which polluted the he notes that the plague is acting

ocean, killed fish, and created a vapor under God’s command. And, in the
that presumably carried the plague to final paragraph he notes that the

humans. plague “is surely” part of God’s
punishment for human corruption.

The Black Death

7. Doc A: People should: People were:
How should people • protect themselves from bad air • reading medical books for advice
by burning wormwood and • eating dried fruit and sour foods
try to prevent or chamomile • rubbing clay on buboes
cure the plague? • trying to make their lives as
• keep a simple diet and avoid comfortable as possible
7. Doc B: cold, moist food • using various items to keep the
How did people try air in their home fresh
to prevent or cure • stay in at night to avoid the dew • wearing rings, and eating onions,
• not use rainwater for cooking vinegar, and sardines
the plague? • avoid fasting, excessive amounts

of alcohol, sex, and stress

The Black Death